New law allocates funds for national performing arts companies

MANILA, Philippines—President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law a measure that seeks to allocate funding for performing arts companies in the country and provide them with supporting assistance grants.

Duterte signed Republic Act 11392 or the “National Performing Arts Companies Act” on August 22, a copy of which was shared with the media on Wednesday.

The new law provides designated National Performing Arts Company (NPAC) with funding from P5 million to P10 million over five years.

One NPAC for each genre, namely National Ballet/ Contemporary Dance Company, National Theater Company, National Orchestra, National Choral Company, and National String Ensemble will be designated by a selection committee, which is comprised of a panel of experts knowledgeable in the artistic and technical aspects of the performing arts.

Qualified NPACs must be national in scope, maintain high standards of artistic excel­lence, have represented the country abroad, have maintained a professional track record of continuing undertakings and have sustainable organizations and are able to match their state subsidies.

Under the new law, designated NPACs are entitled to free and equitable use of government facilities and cultural venues devoted to cultural and artistic performances; access to grants for research documentations, productions, workshops, training and audience development programs from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, subject to proper evaluation; and intellectual property rights of their work, including music, choreographs, and other artistic creations.

Designated NPACs of the National Ballet/ Contemporary Dance Company, National Theater Company, and National Orchestra genres will be appropriated P10 million each while NPACs from National Choral Company and National String Ensemble genres will be given P5 million each.  /muf